Baseball

Alex Rivers Prepares for `Opening Day'

Feb 03, 2010

Feb. 3, 2010

Interviewed by: Justin Kuehn (SCU Media Relations Assistant)

A native of Lodi, California, senior right-hander Alex Rivers enters his final season on the Mission Campus as a returning starter in Santa Clara's weekend rotation. During his career Rivers has been a starter, long reliever and closer. To his credit he has been successful in all three roles, named to the 2007 WCC All-Freshman Team as a first-year player and throwing two complete games as a junior starter in 2009.

Being one of the veteran pitchers on the team and having thrown as a long reliever, closer and starter you have a lot of experience and knowledge that could help the team. In your opinion what role do you feel you will be playing this year for the squad? Do you prefer starting pitching versus relieving?

This year having the experience that I have I feel that I will be given the opportunity to start in the weekend rotation. I prefer to start over relief because in starting you know that you are going to pitch on a given day, where as in relief you can throw whenever. I like having a set schedule and knowing when I am going to throw.

What are your predictions for the outcome of this season? Where do you see the team finishing in the West Coast Conference?

I think our team is going to have a good year if we play to our capabilities. As far as conference, we look to finish as one of the top two teams, competing for the West Coast Conference Championship.

Is there anything you are doing in your preparations for this season that are different from what you have done in the past?

I have not done a whole lot differently although this year we have a new strength and conditioning coach which has helped intensify our workouts which has been quite beneficial to me and the team as a whole.

What are your plans for after graduation?

After graduation as everyone who plays baseball in college wants I hope to be drafted and go play professionally for some time. If that is not in the cards I plan to play independent baseball or play in Europe. Baseball is something that has always been a part of my life and hopefully it will continue but if it is not then it is time for the real world and I don't know what that has in store for me.